Abstract: An overload current protection device for cutting off power applied from a power supply to a load (3) such as a motor by means of a contactor (switch) (2) at overloading. With the configuration, an element (40) having a magnetic impedance effect as current detection units (4a, 4b, 4c) is used to thereby expand a current detection range by eliminating magnetic saturation due to a core, a problem with a conventional current transformer, thereby providing at low costs an overload current protection device having a wide current detection range.

Abstract: An electrical current overstress protection device for use with a power source and an overload protection switch comprising a main conductor member receiving current from the power source; a parallel conductor member connected to the main conductor member; and an area of localized increased electrical resistance located on the parallel conductor member and located proximate to the overload protection switch.

Abstract: Maintenance trip functions override the normal or specified trip functions of a low voltage circuit breaker to reduce pickup currents and/or time delays to effect faster trips, which reduces arc energy produced by faults during maintenance or testing on a live circuit breaker.

Abstract: The anti-interference filter and lightning arrester device is equipped with two series-connected gas capsule diverters (6, 7). With the gas capsule diverters (6, 7) a switching configuration (9) is connected. This switching configuration (9) is implemented such that in the event of an interference, the gas capsule diverters (6, 7) can be reliably reset to the nonconducting state. This is even possible in the presence of a DC voltage and/or high-frequency signals.

Abstract: A device for connection between supply buses in mixed power integrated circuits includes a diode in series with a transistor with an active p-ring in a semiconductor substrate. The active p-ring surrounds the source and drain of the transistor with a conductive region having the same conductivity type as the semiconductor substrate. A control circuit coupled to the p-ring applies a bias voltage in response to an ESD event affecting the first and second conductors. The bias voltage tends to inject carriers into the semiconductor substrate which enables discharge of the short voltage pulse via a parasitic SCR in the substrate from the anode of the diode to the source of the transistor.

Abstract: A circuit (100) can include a first section (102) that can provide a designated function within an integrated circuit device that can be altered due to current injection at a node (106). A mirror section (104) can mirror the effects of current injection on one or more devices within first section (102) and generate an output indication INJ_EFF representing such effects. In one very particular arrangement, detection of an injected current can be used to prevent false triggering of a switched electrostatic discharge (ESD) current path.

Abstract: An excitation control circuit for suitably exciting a solenoid while current consumption and heating are effectively reduced. The control circuit has a driving circuit for driving a coil of a solenoid in response to a pulse signal supplied from an external device; a counter-electromotive force absorbing circuit, inserted in a path of a return current of the coil, for absorbing counter-electromotive force produced by the coil; and a return current circuit, connected in parallel to the counter-electromotive force absorbing circuit, for intermittently bypassing the return current. The return current circuit may have a field effect transistor switched on according to a signal for defining the timing of bypassing the return current, where the current path of the transistor is connected between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the coil.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for an integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. The ESD protection circuit has a RC module having a resistor and capacitor connected in series; and a current dissipation module for dissipating the ESD, wherein the capacitor is formed by a thick native gate oxide of a transistor, and wherein the thick native gate oxide prevents leakage current formed therethrough so that to avoid leakage current through the current dissipation module during a normal operation of the IC.

Abstract: In a solenoid driving device of the type in which energy stored in a capacitor is used for re-driving of the solenoid, the generation of heat in a current back-flow preventing circuit preventing the back-flow of current to a power supply terminal is suppressed, and the generation of heat in a rectifying element through which the current that flows to the capacitor passes is suppressed. Electric power accumulated in the solenoid when the driving of the solenoid is stopped is temporarily stored in the capacitor, and a high voltage that is generated by the charging utilizing the peak voltage of the capacitor is utilized as the power supply for a discharge control circuit that controls the discharge of the capacitor. The current back-flow preventing circuit is constructed from a switching element such as an FET so that the generation of heat in this circuit is suppressed.

Abstract: A circuit and a method are given, to realize a very efficient driver device for igniters or squibs as used e.g. in airbag applications. Special attention has been turned to include secure and always reliable operating features into the device and at the same time to reach for a low-cost implementation with modern integrated circuit technologies. Controlled firing operation and sophisticated diagnostic mechanisms are realized. These design features have been acquired by use of current mirror circuit principles for the switching devices where appropriate and with special regard to production cost. Current trimming and limitation to secure values are part of the solution.

Abstract: A circuit and a method are given, to realize a very efficient driver device for igniters or squibs as used e.g. in airbag applications. Special attention has been turned to include secure and always reliable operating features into the device and at the same time to reach for a low-cost implementation with modern integrated circuit technologies. Controlled firing operation and sophisticated diagnostic mechanisms are realized. These design features have to a great extent been acquired by consequently using current mirror circuit principles. Current trimming and limitation to secure values are part of the solution.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for current limiting, as is a switchgear assembly having an apparatus such as this. Liquid metal is passed along a resistance element for the current limiting path, in order to achieve current limiting without any arcs for network-dependent short-circuit currents. Exemplary embodiments relate, inter alia, to: an electrical resistance, which rises non-linearly in the movement direction of the liquid metal for a soft current limiting characteristic, a resistance element in the form of a dielectric matrix having channels for the liquid metal, and a combined current limiter circuit breaker. Advantages are, inter alia, reversible current limiting and possibly current disconnection without arcs, also suitable for high voltages and currents, fast reaction times, low wear, and maintenance-friendliness.

Abstract: A drive circuit and relay circuit using this drive circuit are provided, the drive circuit including: a first terminal connected to a drive electrode located at one side of a mechanical switch contact driven by static electricity; a second terminal connected to a drive electrode located at the other side of the switch contact; a photoelectromotive force element connected to the first terminal and the second terminal, optically coupled to a light emitting element, and including at least two photodiode arrays which are serially connected; and an electronic inductor circuit (bypass circuit) connected in parallel with at least one of the photodiode arrays in the photoelectromotive force element.

Abstract: A device for driving a solenoid including a power supply, a switching element connected between the power supply and the solenoid in series therewith, a current circulating diode connected in parallel to the solenoid, a current detecting circuit for detecting an actual current flowing through the solenoid, and a PID computing unit for computing an on-duty value and an off-duty value according to a difference between a target current and the actual current detected and for outputting the on-duty value and the off-duty value. The device further includes a PWM duty driving unit for generating a PWM duty signal according to inputting of the on-duty value and supplying the PWM duty signal to the switching element to on/off control the switching element, and a reverse voltage applying circuit capable of applying a voltage of the power supply as a reverse voltage to the solenoid according to inputting of the off-duty value when the switching element is off.

Abstract: A device for inductively transmitting electrical energy to at least one mobile load, with at least one primary conductor that extends along a designated path of the load in the form of a conductor loop and from which a secondary conductor arranged on the load is able to draw electrical energy. At least two conductor loops are provided that are electrically separated from one another and respectively assigned to different segments of the path. The conductor loops are arranged relative to one another so that electrical energy intended for the load can be transmitted from a first conductor loop to at least a second conductor loop due to inductive coupling between the conductor loops. A section of the second conductor loop that is inductively coupled contains a larger number of windings than that of the first conductor loop. The second conductor loop includes of a series of partial loops that extend parallel to one another.

Abstract: A semiconductor circuit in a semiconductor substrate includes a first input for feeding a first supply potential, a second input for feeding a second supply potential higher than the first supply potential, a device, an output and a parasitic pn-junction between the device and the semiconductor substrate, which is conductive at a first polarizing potential at the output smaller than the first supply potential or at a second polarizing potential at the output greater than the second supply potential. A protective circuit whose electric resistance at the first polarizing potential at the output and at the second polarizing potential at the output, respectively, is higher than at a normal operation potential at the output lying between the first supply potential and the second supply potential is connected between the output and the parasitic pn-junction.

Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) with built in intelligence is described that includes circuitry to automatically indicate a device miswiring condition. When a GFCI is wired with its AC and LOAD terminals reversed, downstream devices are still protected in the event of a ground fault but the duplex receptacle on the GFCI itself is not. The invention incorporates miswiring sense circuitry that automatically triggers the generation of visual and audible alarms in the event a miswiring condition is sensed. The invention employs an alarm inhibiting technique that incorporates sense circuitry connected to the AC terminals on one side of the internal GFCI switches or relays and alarm generation circuitry connected to the LOAD terminals on the opposite side.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a semiconductor processing apparatus and a method for clamping a semiconductor substrate and controlling a heat transfer associated therewith. According to one aspect of the present invention, a multi-polar electrostatic chuck and associated method is disclosed which provides a controlled and uniform heat transfer coefficient across a surface thereof. The multi-polar electrostatic chuck comprises a semiconductor platform having a plurality of protrusions that define gaps therebetween, wherein a distance or depth of the gaps is uniform and associated with a mean free path of the cooling gas therein. The electrostatic chuck is permits a control of a backside pressure of a cooling gas within the plurality of gaps to thus control a heat transfer coefficient of the cooling gas.

Abstract: An output circuit may include a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, and an output terminal connected to a capacitive load. Depending on the state of a load control input signal, the output circuit performs selectively a charging-current supplying operation of supplying a charging-current from the power supply terminal to the capacitive load and a discharging-current withdrawing operation of withdrawing a discharging-current from the capacitive load to the ground terminal. An overcharging-current prevention switch is provided to detect a short circuit between the output terminal and the ground terminal so as to stop or suppress the charging-current supplying operation. An overdischarging-current prevention switch is provided to detect a short circuit between the output terminal and the power supply terminal so as to stop or suppress the discharging-current withdrawing operation.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has an electrostatic protection diode in a signal input portion thereof and is accompanied by a parasitic transistor between the diode and an output control transistor. The semiconductor device further has a dummy transistor that is formed closer than the output control transistor to the electrostatic protection diode, and an output logic determining circuit that keeps the output signal at a predetermined logic level so long as the parasitic transistor formed between the electrostatic protection diode and the dummy transistor is on. With this configuration, malfunctioning caused by a parasitic transistor can be prevented without the use of an externally fitted component.